Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-12


the horses. He now made direct cut from
the lake to the point indicated by the girl.
Midway his lynx eye caught sight of some
thing futtering from a branch. 1t was a
bit of dark blue cloth. He remembered
that Amber had worn that color. 1t was
unlike any that he had collected. II only
remained to ask Fay what was worn By the
missing girl on that memorable morning
to make the chain complete. The wagons
had been driven out to the highway, and
had probably taken the usual route to the
| Allegheny, he concluded.
Everything that was bSst in this forest
chieftain's nature was now engaged in this
enterprise and he set out on his apparently
hopeless errand without an hours delay
At the Oneida Castle he found that body
of 200 warriors had responded to the call of
General Harrison, and were only a day in
advance of him, moving west He over
took and joined them. They made des-
ultory yet quick march TO the Allegheny,
stopping only to make canoes for the de-
cent of the river. He met other Indians in
canoes upon their return trip, and these
he questioned and became convinced that
the most of the Immigrants, who passed at
the time of Amber's flight, had gone to
the Maumee valley, which was so soon to
shake with the thunders of war.
The winter had passed cheerily enough
to the settlers of the Maumee. There were
rumors atioat that made husbands and
| fathers look uneasily at wives and chill
dren as they cast the bullets or primed the
trusty rife. In the household of Jacob and
Rachael Dunn all was peace, the two
men abstainipg from tales that would
| brighten the ''wimmen folks One after
noon in early spring Amber stood at the
cabin door. There were as yet no leaves
/ on the trees, but the ground beneath them
was full of sweet, new life and fragrant
with spicy odors. She was Just suggesting
a winter-green hunt to the children
when Nate looked up from his work of
mending whip lash, and signaled to her
to draw near. There's Indians in the
woods he whispered. Keep in doors
/ see two of the red devils horseback this
morning" He could have told her much
more. for they had followed him while he
was looking tor a stray horse, and though
he had doubted many times, he was not
certain that they would not trail him to
the house, They were well mounted. and
he believed that others of the gang had
taken old Sorrel, who had never been
known to stray before in all his discreet
and steady going-life. Amber obeyed in
| silence,as was her habit, and seated herself
| with some work near the door. Her eyes
she could not repress the longing to 90 out
| in the pure air. Suddenly her hands
| dropped her work.
They are here" she said in low voice.
Nate sprang up. His pursuers OF the morn
ing were tying their horses to a couple of
young trees in front of the house. They
were fully armed and hideous with paint,
but they made pacific signs to Nate, who
stood in the door with his rifle raised
Put down your guns or I'll fire." he
shouted. They obeyed. Leaning their
guns against stump they advanced with
extended hands towards the muZzle of
Mates rifle. Not an eyelash quivared rs
| they strobe up the little slope on which
the cabin stood. Just then Amber gave a
cry of recognition. They stopped and
looked at her, then exchanged gances, ac-
| companied by the usual Indian eXclama-
tons of surprise. One was huge Oneida,
whom Amber had often seen at THE
Castle" and his comrade was the chief.
whose life was devoted to the quest of the
! White Rose-Lone Pine himself 1t was
wonderful that she had recognized them
| through the diabolical disguise of their war
| paint but she knew enough of Indian Ell
quette to abstain from addressing them
| when on the war path.
Their conference with Nate Lacey was
was this: General Harrison was closely
hesieged by the allied forces of Proctor and
| Tecumseh at Fort Meigs, on the Maumee.
This the settlers knew, but thought them
| selves comparatively safe at distance of
thirty miles from the point where the force
| of the enemy was concentrated. But the
near approach of large force, under Cen
eral Green Clay from Kentucky to relieve
the fort, had caused the besieging General
to throw out skirmishing bodies in all di-
rections to feel for the enemy's advance.
No settlement or farmhouse was now
safe, and Harrison, with his usual thought
| tulness for the poor people, had sent out
his rusty Oneidas as being best fitted for
such service, to guide and guard as many
as possible of the exposed settlers into
places of safety. Some they had taken to
the fort, and they proposed this to Lacey as
the only chance of escape. for the danger
was hourly increasing. Dunn had now
returned and joined the council, and the
result was that they placed themselves in
the hands of the friendly Oneidas, who,
about sunset, were joined by three of their
scouts. They camped under the trees
without fire, telling the family to use the
same caution. The night was clear but
moonless. Within doors the women made
their preparations for fight with heavy
hearts. Poor Rachel was almost demented
at the thought of leaving her HOUSEHOLD
goods and stores, the awful chances of
the morrow seeming obscured To the wife
and mother by the question of how her
children were to be fed There were horses
enough to mount The family. About mid
night the Indians announced that the time
to mount had come. The little band
struck into the forest and pushed forward
till daylight. The Oneida then called
halt and sent out runners in the direction
of the fort. The jaded women and chill
dren slipped OFT the horses, which were
allowed to crop little grass, and the fam
lily made hasty meal on the provisions
they had brought with them. They offered
to divide with their Indian friends, but
they declined. The two chiefs seemed to
be all eye and ear. Amber, who watched
them, was the only one who fully realized
their peril. A little past sunrise the run
ners came back. There was short con-
sultatiOn, and the result seemed favorable
They mounted and pressed on. 1t was
useless TO attempt to conceal the trail of SO
large party, so they rode boldly On, the
white men on one side Of the women and
children, the Indians on the other The
roar of the rapids now rose distinctly on
the air, but they had detour of several
miles to make in order TO come out above
the fort, and so avoid Proctor's camp and
the batteries below. Their course had
been westerly, following the river They
now turned south into q cattle trail which
led to a little run that was quite stream in
winter, uniting with the Maumee Here
they refreshed themselves and the horses,
and entered the stream, followingits course
about two miles. When they had adj
vanced far enough in this direction they
left the water. In front was little knoll,
nearly bare OF trees. Here a colt, which
was ridden by two OF the boys, became rest
i've, and frightened. The two men looked
at each other and whispered, he smells
Indians" The attention of all was CEN
tered upon him for moment, and when
they again looked forward they saw
mounted Indian looking down upon them
from the knoll. The party drew close to-
gether, and the men raised their rifles. In
another instant the knoll seemed alive
with savages, who swept toward them at
swinging trot. The Oneida made gesture
of despair-they were outnumbered. Re
sistance would bring DEATH Don't
shoot" he said to the excited Dunn. The
unhappy man did not heed him. He fired
at one of the foremost warriors, the savage
put his hand to his shoulder and came on
with wild yell, and half dozen niles
rang out sharply as they came on. Though
the aim was reckless, Jack Dunn and his
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